Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
Q&A with SPB: What is a doula's role at birth?
| Posted on February 1, 2017 at 8:08 AM |
comments (660)
|
I am so excited to kick off our new VLOG series, "Ask the Doula". I will be inviting area doulas to come in and answer our reader questions so that you can get a feel for all the different things a doula can bring to your pregnancy, your birth space, and the support they offer throughout the childbearing year. I invited my friend and colleague Darcy Newlin to join me and answer our first question, "What is a doula's role at birth?" Here is a summary of her answer: Anything non-clinical It can be things like: Massage Maneuvers to help baby move into optimal position Keeping your partner hydrated and fed so that they have the energy to support you Comfort measures in labor: hip squeezes, rebozo techniques A doula's wide range of experience helps with the little things... Hospital or birth center: all of your belongings packed and ready to go Birthing at home : help get birth space set up, get team to
you A doula who has experienced birth herself and/or has attended many births can help by giving you a sense that what is happening is normal and that
you are safe. Although it’s intense and powerful, and you didn’t know you
had that inside your body, it’s you – you and your baby working together to be
born. She will assure you that while it is a sacred event, it’s normal and it’s safe.  Contact Darcy:
Email: [email protected] Phone/Text Number: 602-402-0855
Join me next week for another installment of ASK THE DOULA  Disclaimer: Birthing From Within and Bradley
Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler,
Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale
|
Q&A with SPB: DIY Padsicles
| Posted on January 17, 2017 at 6:27 AM |
comments (387)
|
 Here is PART II of our VLOGS with guest doula, Michelle
Ludwig from Modern Mama Doula Services. Last week, she showed us her TOP 5 picks for postpartum. Today she is going to share her DIY tutorial for you to make
soothing postpartum “padsicles” right at home during pregnancy so that they are
ready for you when you are home holding your sweet pea! What you need: -Witch Hazel ~ we both really like the Humphrey’s brand –
available in regular or organic) -Maxi-pads ~ if you can find them, get some chemical-free and
bleach-free; usually available online -Cookie Sheet -Freezer Storage Bags How to: 1) Open up all the pads and leave them on the wrapper so
that they don’t stick to each other later 2) Lay them all out on your cookie sheet 3) Spray the witch hazel on to the pads until they are wet
BUT not dripping 4) Put the whole cookie tray into the freezer for about two hours 5) Once the witch hazel has frozen, take them back out of
the freezer and fold them back up for storage.
Place them in a freezer storage bag and back into the freezer while you
wait for your Sweet Pea to make their appearance. 6) Use them during the postpartum period on top of the large
postpartum pads you will receive in your birth kit or from the hospital. They will be a little chilly at first, but after the initial
freeze they will feel great on your bottom. I did ask Michelle what her experience was with other “add-ons”.
Some info out on the internet suggests using lavender essential oil or aloe
vera gel along with the witch hazel on the pads when you are preparing them. As Michelle so wisely answered, less is more. Witch hazel is
an extremely effective healing agent, and it would be a bummer to find out that
you are allergic to lavender or aloe vera when you are trying to heal from
birth, learning to breastfeed and figuring out your mothering. The witch hazel and pads are part of Michelle’s especially
prepared Bump Boxes. Along with the items
for padsicles, you will also receive some hand crafted postpartum essentials
that she makes herself. You can order Michelle’s specially
made with love package from her HERE Would you
like to interview Michelle as a doula? Please read her meet the doula feature
HERE Contact
Michelle: WEB http://www.modernmamadoula.com/ CELL OR TEXT 7204098977 EMAIL [email protected] Disclaimer:
Birthing From Within and Bradley
Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler,
Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale
|
Q&A with SPB: Postpartum Care Kit
| Posted on January 9, 2017 at 10:00 PM |
comments (0)
|
 I am so
excited to feature Michelle Ludwig on the blog today! She is a birth doula and placenta
encapsulation specialist in the phoenix metro area.
In today’s
vlog, Michelle is sharing some ideas for postpartum self-care to help make the
early days of healing and breastfeeding a little smoother – every tip helps!
Here is a
recap for you:
1+2) Witch
hazel and some chlorine-free, bleach-free pads. You can use these to make “padsicles”, a cold compress that can be placed on top of the giant postpartum pads you will
get from the hospital, or your birth kit if you are birthing at a birth center
or at home. Stay tuned when we do our
diy share next week :) 3) Red
raspberry leaf tea – red raspberry is used as a uterine tonic and has long been
known to promote good uterine function.
It will help the uterus continue to contract as it heals and returns to
it’s pre-pregnancy size.
4) Herbal
soak – this is a special blend of herbs to promote healing. You can steep these
and use them in the peri-bottle to rinse after using the restroom. Another option is to use them in the a sitz-bath container or the bathtub. As Michelle mentions in the VLOG,
these herbal baths are an internet sensation now – many mamas are using them as
a setting for their pregnancy or postpartum photo shoots.
5) Nipple
cream – Michelle mixes up her own brand of wonderful using ingredients that are
safe for baby. You can apply and feed without having to wipe of your breast
first. A good nipple cream is an incredible relief to sore or chapped nipples
as you and your baby have your postpartum learning curve. Even if you have
breastfed before, there is a learning curve with each baby. And if you haven’t
been nursing through the pregnancy, your nipples will have to acclimate to
being used again. Even with a nursling through pregnancy, they typically don’t
feed with the same frequency as a newborn, so a little soothing is a welcome
relief.
You can order
Michelle’s specially made with love package whether or not you are her client.
Please check HERE for more details.
Would you
like to interview Michelle as a doula? Please read her meet the doula feature HERE Contact
Michelle: WEB http://www.modernmamadoula.com/ CELL OR TEXT 7204098977 EMAIL [email protected]
Disclaimer:
Birthing From Within and Bradley
Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler,
Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale
|
Keeping Sweet Pea Healthy 2.0
| Posted on November 30, 2016 at 9:48 AM |
comments (33)
|
We had a harrowing week in the PICU when Night Owl was only three-months old. We make every effort to educate our students, especially those with Sweet Peas born in the winter months, about how to avoid their own hospital stay. See the blog post with all the details on Keeping Sweet Pea Healthy HERE RSV protection website HERE Handwashing Guidelines from the CDC HERE Get your own Healthy Little Ones Sign HERE  Disclaimer: The material included in this blog and video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and related videos contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Mesa, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale |
Q&A with SPB: Are there herbs that could drop my milk supply?
| Posted on November 23, 2016 at 5:15 PM |
comments (203)
|
 This is a common question I get around the holidays... The big 4 herbs found in holiday recipes, over-the-counter cold formulations and cough drops:
I also mention Oregano since oregano oil is an ingredient used by women who intentionally want to decrease their milk supply at weaning. Other things that might be dropping your milk supply around the holidays:
So take a deep breath and see if you can figure out what is going on - it may be a combination of things that are causing your breastmilk supply to be lower than usual. What to do if you need to increase your supply:
Ok - have a great holiday season!! Wishing you and yours a blessed season. Links to explore here: SPB post on Herbs + Breastfeeding https://goo.gl/3eKlz0 Earth Mama Angel Baby Herb Guide https://goo.gl/sHnXMQ List of herbs to avoid from KellyMom.com https://goo.gl/x72qZt Janatik Mayan Superfood - reported to be a breastmilk booster! https://goo.gl/DTzBab Malunggay Leaf Motherlove product https://goo.gl/kemLYy Go-Lacta product https://goo.gl/ObZnf9 Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale |
Inside Look: Flowerevolution Flower Lounge
| Posted on November 18, 2016 at 2:19 PM |
comments (507)
|
Otter and I had the privilege of attending an amazing, heart-opening event last evening. When I was pregnant with her, I met Katie Hess and Lisa Reinhardt at an event for The Bump. That "chance" meeting introduced the power of flowers and intentional chocolate into our lives, for which I am forever grateful. Whether you are pregnant, birthing or postpartum, this book applies to you. It applies to anyone who is breathing space and wanting a more meaningful life experience. Katie and Lisa's vision to change the world with flowers has found it's most recent expression through Katie's book, Flowerevolution.  I first became of Katie's work-in-progress when one of her assistant's contacted me about including my testimonial in the book. I had written it after using the flower essences through Otter's pregnancy and birth journey. What a thrill to see it included in the finished product!!  There are a few book launch FLOWER LOUNGE events coming up. Check HERE to see if there is one coming to a city near you...I know that CA and FL are on the list. Then do whatever you can to get there. The evening was magical from start to finish. We were welcomed into the space with a flower mandala. There were flowers along every walkway, and yes, even in the restrooms. There was delicious libation with optional flower infusion, delicious gifts from Mother Earth to eat, and there were flower reading stations for the guests to enjoy. Every solid space for sitting was ensconced with flower petals and candle light. The evening started with an introduction and an invitation to meditate by Lisa Reinhardt, creator of Wei of Chocolate. Her vegan, fair-trade chocolates are infused with Lotus Wei flower essences. Both she and Katie have studied meditation, and we were treated to a wonderful two-minutes of mindfulness, breathing and being at the pace of chocolate. She welcomed Katie to take the stage. Katie share the trailer for her book, and then spoke more about the inspiration for this labor of love to take fifteen years of working with clients and traveling around the world to connect with flowers into a master work. Anyone can pick up this book and connect with the healing power of flowers. Now you don't need to live near a garden or grow your own flowers to receive their beneficial energy. Even though after experiencing this book I think many will be inspired to plant a small garden, albeit a pot garden in a windowsill - prepare to be enlivened and inspired to take action. Thanks to the masterful skill and the talented eye of photographer and filmmaker Louie Schwartzburg, the pictures in the book come alive in your living room. He was the final person to take the floor last evening. There are not enough words to describe the wonder and awe with which he filled the audience. His dedication to capture the small, the vast, and the incomprehensible for the human eye, slowing it down for our speed, left me in greater wonder at this amazing space we live in. It filled me with hope that since Nature is much bigger and than we are, with stewardship and care, we have an instruction guide to build a safer place for our children. We just need to slow down enough to try and grasp her language and learn her lessons. I highly recommend the book - you can watch the trailer at the Lotus Wei website and order from Amazon. Even if you are not ready to take the flower power journey, it is a stunning work of art with countless beautiful images to bring beauty into your day. Here is a photo journal of our evening: Mandala at the sign-in area  Otter got into the spirit of the evening by adding flowers to the mandala.  Floral art installation along a bench on the walk way.  Always a fan of the infinity sign, I was thrilled to see this floral art.  The flower mandala in the presentation hall.  A gift for all the attendees. Lisa had a specific activity for us to do with the cards - and there were also two pieces of chocolate, which we enjoyed at the event.  Thank goodness for the coloring table!! Otter enjoyed the flower coloring pages while I got to listen to the presenters.  Like an invitation in Wonderland, here was a message for the guests.  Otter was enthralled with the mandalas - a true flower child.  There were a handful of flower petals left. We placed them with intention for some loved ones.  Good night, garden!  The final piece of Lisa's meditation was to have us take out the flower card in our gift bag and reflect on any messages we were receiving as we meditated on the flowers around us. Then the Lotus Wei crew walked among the audience to collect all the cards. The cards were then placed on a table at the exit. Each guest was invited to take a message card on the way out the door. Otter picked this one for us. Pictured underneath it is my flower message that I received this morning when I used Part 2 of the book to continue my own #flowerevolution journey:  Disclaimer:
The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.
Birthing
From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona:
convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale
|
Q&A with SPB: What do you feed your baby after breastfeeding?
| Posted on November 15, 2016 at 9:56 AM |
comments (213)
|
 Q: What do you feed your baby after breastfeeding? A: Anything healthy!!! Bear in mind that the transition from breastfeeding to solids is a gradual one. Start with the mindset that "Food before one is just for fun!" Your body is wonderfully equipped to nourish your baby and help them grow tremendously through their first birthday. As long as your baby is peeing, pooping, and reaching their developmental milestones, then your breastmilk is doing the job of nourishing your Sweet Pea and helping them thrive. If you are having your doubts, schedule a visit with a local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to see if they can help you reach your breastfeeding goals. So how does the transition happen? Typically, we start to replace one feed at a time with solids. Start by offering the breast first, so that you know your baby is getting some nourishment. Then offer them the solid food of the day. Many people start with vegetables first and then move onto fruits. Then offer the breast again after the feeding session to fill up any space that might be left in the tummy. Try not be offended if your Sweet Pea turns away...it just means that your efforts to feed solids were a success!! The transition from exclusively breastfed to eating solids is a gradual one for most families. You alone know when you are ready to night wean, then take away feeds throughout the day until you are left with an occasional nursing session at waking or before bedtime. Rest assured that I do not know anyone who was still breastfeeding their college-bound child! Once your baby is weaned from the breast, they simply need water. You do not have to feel pressured to continue on with another animal's milk for drinking. If you want to avoid other dairy foods altogether, there are many food based sources of calcium. Check out healthaliciousness.com for three different lists of calcium-rich foods: Top 10 Foods, 33 Vegetables, and 17 Fruits. More about solids: One of by-products of Bradley training is that our couples are much more aware (if they weren't already) that our body and our baby are what we eat. A healthy diet is one of the cornerstones of a healthy mom, healthy baby pregnancy. Once you are used to eating a whole food diet, picking up a box of baby cereal and reading the ingredients might be a scary proposition!! Here are some sites that have helpful information about introducing solids that skip over the baby cereal and go straight to whole food:
See our post HERE that answers the question: How do I know my Sweet Pea is ready for solids? It is exciting to see your baby learn to eat other foods! You can read our food chronicle with Otter HERE. Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
Q&A with SPB: How do I know my Sweet Pea is ready for solids?
| Posted on November 8, 2016 at 10:50 AM |
comments (292)
|
 Q: How do I know if my Sweet Pea is ready for solids? A: There are four things to look for!! First of all, you want to be sure that your baby is interested...they WANT to eat. You will know by their behaviors... they are interested, tracking food with their eyes when you eat, and/or they reaching for the food around them!! It has nothing to do with what your family or friends have to say about it or what the people in your meet-up groups are doing with their Sweet Peas who are in a similar age bracket. You and your baby know best!! If you are concerned about your baby's development, then please reach out to your trusted care provider and see what they have to say on the matter. After you decide that your baby is ready, look for these next three signals of food readiness. We learned these points over the years of attending La Leche League meetings, Our family waited for these to be true before we started offering our sweet peas "table food":
Personally, I am not a fan of commercial baby cereals that are full of ingredients that I cannot pronounce without breaking down every syllable. Rest assured, choosing the alternatives are not as time-consuming as you would imagine... Here are some sites that have helpful information about introducing solids:
I hope this helps answer the question of about knowing if your Sweet Pea is ready for solids. Ready to read more? You can read our food chronicle with Otter HERE. Q&A with SPB: What do I feed my Sweet Pea after breastfeeding? HERE Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.
Birthing From Within and Bradley
Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler,
Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, |
Getting Labor Started
| Posted on October 21, 2016 at 12:29 PM |
comments (271)
|
Among the common text questions I get, is "What can I/my friend do to get labor started?" The answer I want to give: Wait. My_theory is that here is nothing you can do that is going to start labor if the baby isn't ready. And sometimes it's not the baby...it's the mother. The mother has more factors in play that can be influenced: physical, chemical, mental, emotional...any one or all of these can delay the onset of labor. Since we are an action-type of culture, here are the things I offer when I get this text. All of them **do not** include "taking something". They are all things to help the mother and baby align physically and emotionally with the oncoming labor and birth of the baby. Along with "doing something", we also invite our students who send us this text to do some internal checks: is there anything they are worried about? That they have left to do or say before the baby arrives? Are there any unexplored conversations or feelings to face? An extra disclaimer: for any of the body workers, do your homework and check out their certifying organizations. In addition, trust your instinct - if you do not feel comfortable with them, politely decline an appointment and call the next person on your list. So, having said all that...here are some ideas to try if you feel like waiting is not an option... For Mom: Acupuncture - an ancient Chinese modality that involves inserting very fine needles along meridians of energy in the body. Acupressure - if you are needle-averse, this uses applied pressure on the energy meridians. Pregnancy Massage - your local childbirth educator, doula or midwife probably has at least one or two names for you to contact. These practitioners specialize in releasing tension and opening the body. Chiropractic Adjustment - again, your local birth workers may have some leads for you. A chiropractor trained in the Webster Protocol can do an assessment to see if the mother's body is optimally aligned for labor and birth. Making love - yes, really. If your partner is a man, his semen can help ripen your cervix with natural prostaglandins. If you were to be induced in the hospital, they will insert the synthetic version to get things going. Whatever gender your partner is, as long as they can help you climax, there is a possibility that one contraction of muscles may encourage the uterine muscles to start contracting as well. And if nothing starts, at least you (hopefully) both had an enjoyable time trying to get labor started. Self-Reflection - Is there anything you still want to do - say - accomplish before your Sweet Pea arrives? Any issues or fears you would like to explore or resolve? I encourage our students to do some kind of fear release exercise or an art exploration to access their right brain and see if anything new comes up or any ideas present themselves. Sometimes just naming them makes a huge difference in being emotionally ready for the birth journey. For Baby: Pelvic Rocking - encourages the baby into an optimal fetal position. When you are on hands and knees, it is more likely for them to put their heaviest side (spine-down) against your belly-button. Deep Chest-Knee Position - kneeling on the floor, instead of resting on your hands, put your chest on the floor. This position helps to get a malpositioned baby that has found a comfortable spot out of that spot that isn't allowing labor to start or progress. Once the baby is out of the pelvis, you can try other things to get baby back into the pelvis with a better alignment. Miles Circuit - a series of three exercises to encourage optimal fetal positioning. Two doulas brainstorming over the phone gave rise to this popular labor tool. Spinning Babies - a website that offers several ideas to encourage babies into an optimal fetal position. Read more about how we used Webster Protocol and Deep Chest-Knee position in THIS post. Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
Inside Look: FlexiStash
| Posted on October 19, 2016 at 10:08 AM |
comments (85)
|
I am pleased to introduce you to FlexiStash, every babywrapping mamas dream!! If you love wraps, or if you love the idea of wrapping your baby, read on!! Have you ever wished for all the wraps? These ladies can literally make your wrap stash dreams come true!! From their website:
I had the pleasure of interacting with the founders of FlexiStash at the Babywearing International of Phoenix "Main Event" in celebration of Babywearing Week. They were kind enough to take the time to share more about their company...thank you so much, Nadia and Elyse! Tell me about FlexiStash. Elyse and I love babywearing. For each of us, it transformed our together time with little ones in different ways. We wanted to share it with as many people as possible, and learned that the high cost of entry, combined with the variety of options available, meant many caregivers may never find the wrap that fit their needs or might never babywear at all. We wanted to change that. Late night messaging and working on it piece by piece led to the creation of FlexiStash. Elyse is an engineer, whereas Nadia is a finance person. Elyse is tall and fair; Nadia is short and dark. Elyse is one of those fiercely independent and loyal once in a lifetime friends; Nadia is a social butterfly who will connect you with random people. We are very different yet we both love our children fiercely and believe anyone can do anything with the right support network. That's what we are to each other - great friends, amazing mentors, and champions of saving a joy or overcoming a challenge motherhood, one moment at a time. Who would use the service/products that FlexiStash provides? Any caregiver can benefit from FlexiStash. Social babies who cannot hold their heads up completely can get outdoor walks and learn to begin appreciating the world in a woven wrap. A fussy baby who needs cuddles can get quality skin to skin or hugs while the caregiver continues on their day. A toddler who wants to see things at the level of adults can get lots of "ups" (pick-ups, how children refer to being carried) without tiring out a caregiver's back or arms. A parent who needs to get some errands done after a long day of work can wear their child and share their world without getting slowed down. A hiker can enjoy a mountaintop sunset without trying to figure out stroller logistics. A daycare provider can offer comfort to a child missing their parent while also feeding or attending to another. We have seen stories of successful naps, workouts, gardening, travel, and so much more because of babywearing. What are the benefits of using wraps for babywearing? Scientifically speaking, from Elyse's world, babywearing is great for any caregiver and child. With similar results of skin-to-skin studies, babywearing studies demonstrate that children who are given affection and physical reinforcement or reassurance are often more emotionally intelligent and more independent as they mature. Elyse's baby was born a month early (100% healthy and awesome), and babywearing was essential for his first month of getting used to being in the real world a bit earlier than planned--he needed more mama cuddles. Financially speaking from Nadia's perspective, babywearing works well for those who do not have a car or a stroller or the means to get there, since all you need is one wrap to secure your baby to you! Nadia recently moved and is now a carless public transportation urban dweller. She has traveled thousands of miles with a backpack and a wrap and her baby successfully! As we answered earlier, children get more exposure earlier and often are able to acclimate or socialize as a result. Nadia began her baby outings on Day 3 of her son's birth. Notably, people are much less likely to lean into your personal area near your chest if your baby is worn than they are to lean into a stroller and touch your baby, which can be a concern in the early days pre-vaccination. Those are only the benefits for the children! Besides the caregivers being able to get other mundane tasks done, the freedom offers so much mental relief. Elyse could enjoy her social life or doing more than being a portable baby bed. Nadia could get out into the fresh air and get rid of her cabin fever. Although maternity leave is fantastic, when you do not have others with which to share it or if your friends are all at work full-time, you need to develop your own activities or events--babywearing helps facilitate that and so much more! How do you counsel someone who loves the idea of babywearing, but is too intimidated to try wrapping their baby? This question is perfect because we both were exactly in this place at one time! Meet your local VBE (volunteer babywearing educator). Babywearing International (BWI) is an amazing worldwide group of caring people who are willing to help you try! Types of carriers, types of carries, types of ways to soothe or comfort your baby...they are the experts! They showed Elyse how to enjoy all of her baby time and to share the love of babywearing with her family. They showed travel-addict Nadia how to enjoy travel WITH her baby so she could show him her favorite places and people in different places. We were both SO SO intimidated and now look at us! We also LOVE meeting people and learning more, so please feel free to connect with us on any social media. We will happily tell you about our favorites - carriers, methods of carrying, moods of carrying - we could go on for hours! ;) What age-range of child does this wrap-stash service work for? How old is "too old" to be carried in a wrap? Love this questions because the true answer is never! Certain wraps are designed to be easier with more or less weight, and we note where sensitive skin would very much benefit from a wrap (for example some of our silk and cashmere blends are perfect for those early days of soft soft newborn skin). Thicker twills and cottons are sometimes described as toddler-worthy, but honestly are good for any wiggly or very active or heavier child (Nadia's son loves to try to lean as horizontal as he can get, so he is a perfect test of this even though he is still a newborn). We have actually seen VBE demonstrations for adult caregivers who use wearing as a means of comforting their charges - these are of course professionals who are trained in this. The true answer is that it has to work for all parties. Sometimes caregivers and their charges take a break from wearing, to come back to it later. Some do it during the early years only and hold fond memories of it. The fact that this changes for every family is why FlexiStash is a good option - it gives you the flexibility to enjoy the wearing without worrying about the potential countdown. What makes FlexiStash unique? The flexibility. every child is different and every situation is different. You won't know if your baby will refuse to be wrapped or if your toddler will refuse once you have invested in that one-of-a-kind custom. Since wraps average around the $250 mark (in our collection) and can run into several thousands of dollars, we see people who won't sign up for custom wraps or who are afraid to buy their dream wrap "in case their child wrap strikes" (refuses to be wrapped). It's stressful financially to think about that. We offer flexibility to avoid that. You can rent monthly so the timing does not matter at all, or you can pick a specific wrap for a shorter period if you know exactly what you want to try. You can change your mind month to month and upgrade or try different options. It's perfect for all types of wearers. What motivated you to start FlexiStash? Our own children, honestly. We wanted to show them the world and we are both very active people. Babywearing offered us the ability to do that, complementary to both of our personalities and schedules. It's been an amazing part of our motherhood experience. Our children love playing with the wraps, napping with the wraps, and are starting to associate the wraps with new adventures. We love everything babywearing has brought to us, because it has only enhanced the experiences we already would be having. Is there anything else our readers should know about FlexiStash? We love being social with our fans and followers and encourage you to join us for our GuessTheWrap days or conversations on Instagram or Facebook. We are a young and growing business and take our customers very seriously - every improvement and growth decision we have made has been based on customer feedback. We just completed some giveaways in honor of International Babywearing Week and are always looking for more ways to engage with babywearers out there! As we tell everyone - it's our stash, but it's also your stash. That's the beauty of FlexiStash. What inspires you? We are inspired by strong women, by those who are professional successes but who also find the time to be caring, kind individuals. We are always drawn to respect those who can command a room and be productive but who can also recognize the contributions of others and to promote good work by all toward a positive endeavor. We hope to take the lessons from our mentors and exemplify them so that we can instill these strong values and character attributes in our own children. Thank you again, Nadia and Elyse, for taking the time to give our readers an "Inside Look" at your amazing service! Okay readers - which wrap are you going to try first?? Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth
classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert,
Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
